www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I am a first timer to CR and my spanish is poor. I will be in San Jose staying at La Amistad. I am in the process of looking over Google Maps and it seems like even the farthest away Pensions are a little over a 15min walk. Is this advisable? I can understand the necessity from 9pm and later the need to take a cab. I will definitely use a cab when taking a woman back to the hotel. Any words of wisdom are appreciated.

Many pensions are within I'd say 30-40 min radius. 15 min probably gets you only to a couple.

Daylight, late afternoon I've felt fine walking in the gulch and surrounds, even alone.

After dark (whatever time that happens to be) I do a taxi, period. They are cheap.



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

_________________
This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No tourist or travel promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided compensation (monetary or otherwise) for this potentially entertaining contribution.

There are a lot of threads on walking safety. There a split opinions on this. Personally, I walk as little as possible, day or night. When walking alone, you can be robbed at 9am or 9pm, especially in an area where there are not many people around.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=37952
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37219
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=45902

The first two threads are dog's years old. The gulch is not what it was, even in my 2 year perspective.

As for the distance to the MPs, it depends on how much and how fast you walk. I walk the circuit every day I am there, and sometimes multiple times in a day. I may walk between the HDR and Monicas two times a day, easy.

I'm seldom in a hurry, and I like to be around people. I enjoy the parks, the vendors, and the food. You miss so much if all you ever see is the backseat of a cab. However, some people already know what there is to see, and dont care about it. They merely want point A to point B, and a cab is their preference.

Until you know your way around, it's best to cab from dusk onwards. I learned my way around the central area on my first trip, and I only use cabs if it's raining (or if I'm with someone who doesn't like walking).

_________________
bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

Sunset is between 5:20 and 5:30 pm.
Many MPs close between 6 and 8 pm. there are usually a lot of people walking around till at least 7 pm. so if your MP is not in an isolated area you should be ok. Best see how you feel when there. I mean you may walk to the MP at say 6 but take a cab back at 7 and later.
Also carry only the cash you need , your ID and no wallet, credit cards and other valuables like a decent watch and phone. If in doubt take a cab.

_________________
Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

You are right. Overall, Costa Rica is much more dangerous. Violent crime is up double digits.

But my taxi/walking behavior has not changed much since I started coming 11 years ago.

I'm not risk-averse (I do some risky shit) but I guess that I choose my battles.

Not nitpicking on your statistics, but because we are tourists there, we only care about tourist-related crime, which seems to be down considerably. The gulch itself (and especially the areas around the principal parques) are better policed than they were a couple of years ago.

_________________
bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!